The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 400: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ELEANOR AND THE PRINCE 397 claimed, ‘‘ until you declare that you have pardoned me for the rudeness, nay, the insult which I offered to you a few minutes ago. Tell me that 1 am forgiven!”’ ‘“ To relieve myself from the embarrassment of the present proceeding, J at once comply with the demand of your Royal Highness,’’ said the countess, in a cold and dignified manner. ‘‘ Let the past, so far as it any way regards the late painful subject of our discourse, be buried in complete oblivion.” ‘A thousand thanks for this kind proposal,’ exclaimed the prince, rising from his knees, and resuming his seat upon the sofa. ‘‘ But how was it, charming lady, that you ap- peared to be offended by the slight compliment which I ere now paid to your beauty and your amiability? Wherefore did you withdraw your hand as if it were in the grasp of some hideous monster? ”’ ‘Rather let me inquire wherefore your Royal Highness should imagine that I could have acted otherwise than as I did? ” asked the countess, somewhat moved by the melting tone in which he spoke and by the tenderness of his manner. ‘“T must confess that I am utterly unworthy of any mark of favour at the hands of your ladyship,”’ said the prince. ‘‘ A being so radiant in beauty as yourself, enjoying a repu- tation which is like the spotless mirror whence the breath breathed on its pure surface passes rapidly away, endowed with an intellect as bright as your virtues are estimable, — - such a being, I say, is so far above a poor miserable mortal like myself — ”’ ‘“ Surely your Royal Highness must be delivering a satire against me?’ exclaimed the countess, scarcely knowing whether to be offended or to laugh, as this panegyric on her- self, involving such an absurd contrast, was poured upon her ears. ‘| never was more in earnest in my life! ’’ cried the prince, in an impassioned tone. “ I have observed you at the court. I have seen your lovely form moving in the mazes of the dance, and I now behold you by the domestic hearth; and you appear more beauteous in my eyes, in that comparatively simple dress, than when the diamonds on your brow glisten amidst the blazing lamps of fashion’s busy scene. Think not that I am paying you an idle compliment, fancy not that I am offering up to you the incense of a passing flattery. 0 CONnniclooolKs (GO)